JPSO to stop in-person jail visits in favor of video calls

Updated on Sep 27, 2017 at 05:46 PM CDT

JPSO Capt. Bryan Bordelon demonstrated how the new video visitation system works. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has contracted with Securus Technologies to maintain a video system that allows visitors to call into the jail and have on-camera visits with inmates. Sheriff Joe Lopinto announced Wednesday (Sept. 28, 2017) the new system will be effective Oct. 10, at which time they will no longer allow in-person visits with inmates. (Littice Bacon-Blood, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

A family room at the new JPSO visitation center in Marrero. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has contracted with Securus Technologies to maintain a video system that allows visitors to call into the jail and have on-camera visits with inmates. Sheriff Joe Lopinto announced Wednesday (Sept. 28, 2017) the new system will be effective Oct. 10, at which time they will no longer allow in-person visits with inmates. (Littice Bacon-Blood, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has contracted with Securus Technologies to maintain a video system that allows visitors to call into the jail and have on-camera visits with inmates. Sheriff Joe Lopinto announced Wednesday (Sept. 28, 2017) the new system will be effective Oct. 10, at which time they will no longer allow in-person visits with inmates. (Littice Bacon-Blood, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has contracted with Securus Technologies to maintain a video system that allows visitors to call into the jail and have on-camera visits with inmates. Sheriff Joe Lopinto announced Wednesday (Sept. 28, 2017) the new system will be effective Oct. 10, at which time they will no longer allow in-person visits with inmates. (Littice Bacon-Blood, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has contracted with Securus Technologies to maintain a video system that allows visitors to call into the jail and have on-camera visits with inmates. Sheriff Joe Lopinto announced Wednesday (Sept. 28, 2017) the new system will be effective Oct. 10, at which time they will no longer allow in-person visits with inmates. (Littice Bacon-Blood, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has contracted with Securus Technologies to maintain a video system that allows visitors to call into the jail and have on-camera visits with inmates. Sheriff Joe Lopinto announced Wednesday (Sept. 28, 2017) the new system will be effective Oct. 10, at which time they will no longer allow in-person visits with inmates. (Littice Bacon-Blood, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

The
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office
is discontinuing in-person visits for inmates and their relatives, Sheriff Joe Lopinto announced Wednesday (Sept. 28). Instead, the visits will be via a new video system that will allow relatives to "visit" using their personal mobile phones and computers.

Lopinto said the JPSO will be the first in the state to use the video system that allows relatives to schedule and conduct video visits from anywhere.

The new policy goes into effect Oct. 10, Lopinto said. In-person visits will be restricted to professionals providing services to those in jail.

Currently in-person weekly visitation happens at the parish jail in Gretna from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. In that scenario, inmates and their visitors are separated by a glass partition and conversation is over telephones.

Now, inmates will use a computer kiosk that's set up in a commons area on their cell block. Relatives can visit with inmates at the sheriff's office new video visitation center that has been established at 1425 Walkerton Way in Marrero or using a new app.

Lopinito said the video system will allow inmates a 12-hour block of time to schedule visits.

"Video visitation meaning, a person will not only be able to come to this facility which is an under-utilized area of our old 3
rd
District to be able to see their loved ones through the camera system, or to be able to utilize it on their own computers or their own cell phones," Lopinto said. "They will be able to schedule 20 minute blocks in order to have the inmates participate in their own events. Whether it maybe it's a child's birthday or something that they may be able to see and not be subject to just those two-hour blocks."

At the Marrero Center, family rooms have been carved out that have seats and one Securus camera system to contact the inmate. There are two telephones per camera. There are no speakers.

The cost of the first video visit is waived, if the Marrero center is used. However, a per visit fee of $12.99 is assessed after the first visit. All video visitation calls that are initiated remotely costs $12.99 per 20-minute block.

Inmates will be allowed a maximum of three video visits per day, Lopinto said.

Lopinto said the new system will reduce the number of personnel needed to oversee in-person visitation and increases safety and security. Video visitation reduces the chance of contraband entering the jail, authorities say.

"This system gives (inmates) a lot more time with their family, and it also frees up assets for the taxpayers of Jefferson Parish," Lopinto said. "We can allocate resources where we think they're needed, on the streets."

Under the current system, Lopinto says about seven officers are used to move inmates from their cell to the visiting rooms. The new system will allow three to five of those officers to be utilized elsewhere, he said.

While some advocates of prison reform have criticized the use of video visits rather than face-to face, Lopinto said he thinks the new system offers more access to family members unable to travel to Jefferson Parish.

"If they don't have the ability to travel to Jefferson Parish in a 6-8 p.m. time frame one night a week, they'll never get that face to face," Lopinto said. "They'll be able to get that face to face whether they live in New York, Wyoming or anywhere around the world."

In addition, Jefferson Parish currently doesn't allow contact during visits, "so face to face is still behind the glass," Lopinto said.